Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert Boschgmbh

Jens-Uwe Sparschuh

Thanh-Hung Nguyen-Schaefer

Frank Brenner

Reiner Essinger

Franz Winter

Guenther Bantleon

Thomas Hebner

Manual-valve pistons, manual-valve assemblies comprising the manual-valve pistons, and compressed-gas systems comprising the manual-valve-assemblies are disclosed. A manual-valve piston for sealing a compressed-gas conduit may comprise a head portion, a sealing portion, and a stem portion between the head portion and the sealing portion. When the manual-valve piston in a conduit, a gap is defined between a blocking rim of the head portion that allows compressed gas to be trapped in an isochoric thermal isolation zone adjacent to the stem portion. The isochoric thermal isolation zone protects sealing rings seated in the sealing portion from extremely cold compressed gas being introduced into the compressed-gas system. Manual-valve assemblies comprise a manual-valve piston coupled to a coupling body. Compressed-gas systems comprise a fuel-storage vessel, a refueling port, internal conduits, and a manual-valve assembly disposed in one of the internal conduits.

Compressed gas system, manual valve assembly, and manual valve piston with isochoric thermal isolation zone

The invention relates to a fuel cell installation comprising a fuel cell unit (). Said installation is also provided with a dosing unit () which comprises at least one dosing valve () and is used to dose a fuel () for at least one anode () of the fuel cell unit (), and a starting valve for dosing the fuel () for at least one cathode () of the fuel cell unit () during a starting phase. The aim of the invention is to be able to produce and operate one such fuel cell installation in an economical manner. To this end, at least one throttle element () comprising a fixed internal cross-sectional area is used to fix the maximum quantity of fuel that can be dosed in the starting phase.

Fuel cell system with a metering unit

An anode inlet unit for a split fuel cell stack or two fuel cell stacks having two anode inlets. The anode inlet unit has particular application for a small vehicle that requires less power. In one embodiment, the anode inlet unit only includes three injectors. Two of the injectors provide flow control for the hydrogen gas to the two anode inlets to provide the desired turn-down ratio. For a split stack design, the two injectors may provide flow-shifting where the injection of hydrogen gas into the sub-stacks is alternated. The other injector injects a small amount of hydrogen into the cathode side of the fuel cell stack at system start-up to quickly increase the operating temperature of the system. Additionally, two valves can be provided in the unit that receive a flow of air to purge the anode side of the stack for system shut-down.

Compact anode flow shift design for small fuel cell vehicles

Growing community of inventors

Nackenheim, Germany

Jens-Uwe Sparschuh